My name Adelena, I am currently studying a Master of Counselling and psychotherapy, hoping to one day use this in working with young people.
My cancer journey began in 2003 after my brother was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of blood cancer, which turned our world upside down. He went through numerous treatments over two years before thankfully going into remission late 2005.
In 2011 I joined Canteen as a very shy 14-year-old, still attempting to deal with the issues my brother’s cancer had left behind. Through providing a space for me to work through these issues, Canteen has empowered me to become the person that I am today. Inspired from this, I stepped into the leadership space hoping to make a difference to the lives of other young people living with cancer, much like older youth ambassadors had done for me in years before.
The professional and peer support that I have received through Canteen is invaluable, and something I will always be immensely grateful for, as well as the lifelong friendships I have made along the way. I am so excited to be a youth ambassador for Canteen and to be able to spread the word of the phenomenal work that Canteen does!
